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“This is an exciting time for our membership and the businesses they represent across Washington. Combined leadership capabilities and viewpoints also create more opportunities for innovation,” Anton stated.

“We will have a new name and some new policies from the ground up,” said WRA spokeswoman Stephanie Davenport said Friday.

The combined association will have more than 6,000 members and advocate on behalf of an industry that employs more than 250,000 Washingtonians and generates $17.7 billion in revenue each year, according to the WRA. It will also serve as the primary source of hospitality information for the state’s restaurants and hotels.